Suspension means for automobile transmissions



Aug. 31, 1943. J. HALTENBERGER SUSPENSION MEANS FOR AUTOMOBILETRANSMISSIONS Filed June 17, 1940 P 7/ w a I 5 J a m a u m .z. m u/ w Mm M H. I 1

M m 4 Q G r 6 n PH INVENTOR.

- Patented Au 31, 1943 SUSPENSION MEANS FOR AUTOMOBILE TRANSMISSIONS IJules Haltenbergcr, Ann Arbor, Mich. Application June 17. 1940,SerianN'o. 340,921

(01. Isa-7o) 4Claims.

My invention relates to suspension means for automobile transmissions,and this application is a continuation-impart of my co-pending appli-CBtiOn Serial NO. 208,292, flied May 16, 1938, now

Patent No. 2,204,989. It also relates to my Patent 2,092,507.

It has been proposed, to remove a flywheel containing a positive (cone)clutch from the engine and place it under the driver's seat. Thesuccessfulapplicationof this sort of proposal necessitates a crank shaftrear extension of over two .feet and correspondingly a shaft diameter ofrear wheels ll (only one of each is shown) in the usual manner.

Engine It includes a usual crank shaft 20 carrying a flywheel 2i andauniversal Joint 22 arranged to drive a power transfer shaft 23 bysplines 24. The engine is also provided with a fly wheel housing 24carrying an .outer'part-ball sphere 28, inner part-ball sphere 21 forthe adoption of a mating part-ball sphere 28 on staover six inches, tocontrol the usual reciprocating engine's angular velocity variations.Here it is proposed, the retention of the flywheel on the crank shaftnear the cylinders, and in the preferred form the use of one or morehydrokinetic devices disposed under the drivers seat.

' It is the object of my invention to increase in an automobile theusefulness of the usual front center seat space, and to reduce oreliminate floor obstacles near the driver.

A further object is to mount one or more usually bulky hydrokineticdevices under the driver's seat while employing but one connection tothe crank shaft.

A further object is to increase the useful floor space, in anautomobile'by' moving the engine forward and counteracting this engineposition by disposing a hydrokinetic transmission unit now reaching 100.lbs. weight under the driver's seat, for the benefit of directionalstability.

Further and more particularly expresed objects of the invention willappear as the description proceeds.

My invention may be embodied in the forms illustrated: 'Here, Fig. 1 isa plan view of a chassis of .an automobile with parts left on; Fig. 1Ais an enlargement of a section illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 2 is asection substantially on lines 2-2 of Fig. 1 here shown in a largerscale; Fig. 3 is amodiflcation of the invention illustrating theconstruction under the drivers seat; Fig. 4 is a further modificationshown in a smaller scale; Fi 5 is a further modification of theinvention.

Referringto Figs. 1, 1A and 2 inclusive, it will -be seen that theusual'widely spaced parts of frame side members I (Fig. 1 shows onlycne)are inter-connected by an X member II. The usual narrowly spacedfore-parts (Fig. 1 shows only one) are provided with usual enginesupporting frame extensions l2 having engine supporting brackets l3 andrubber engine mounts H, for the rear support of engine if.

' The frame is supported by front wheels I and tionary power transfershaft tube 30 positioned under the forepart of the usual body floor 3i.

Stationary tube 30 at its'rear is formed into an enlarged circularhousing 32, and terminates in a flange 33 arranged to support a usualchange speed transmission in housing 34 in the usual manner. Housing 34at its rear is providedwith an end cover 35 having angular mounting lugs36 for the adoption of mounting bolts 31 passing through the X member,where rubber blocks 38 support the rear end of the transmission unit.

Power transfer shaft 23 terminates in flange 40 arranged to drive acircular housing 4i containing hydrokinetic clutch elements 4i.v Housing34 contains a usual change speed transmission having a power outputshaft 43 with a universal Joint 44 thereon arranged to drive a propellershaft 45 connected tovpower axle 46. Onrhousing 34 a usual change speedlever 46' is controlled by rod 41, lever 48 on control shaft 50, and isoperated from the driving compartment by a usual lever 5|.

The constructions of hydrokinetic clutches and associated change speedtransmissions are not new with the applicant. They are well known and itis believed that in view of repeated publication their detaileddescription would only complicate this presentation. It is important tonote however that all hydrokinetic devices have relatively largediameters and thick cross sections and are very bulky in construction,these bein inherent essentials, for their efficient performance.

The above described construction is a reduction to. two simple units: anengine unit supported on usual rubber blocks, and a change speed unit.The changespeed unit in front is supported by the engine unit, and atthe'rear is supported by the usual X member. This transmission positionpermits the use of the usual adjustable front seat 3!.

Furthermore since hydrokinetic devices generate heat, their dispositionat a distance from the hot engine .is of great value.

The disposition of hydrokinetic devices under the driver's seat permitsthe use of multiple Here a housing 52 contains a hydrokinetic clutch Aand a hydroklnetic torque converter B.

In the housing 53 a reverse gear is indicated.

Constructions of this sort usually operate with the torque converter athill climb and acceleration (with the maximum of 85% efficiency) until apredetermined speed is reached. Thereafter it is changed over to,the(99% efflcientl hydrokinetic clutch. When an automatic changeover isused it usually operates by a governor controlled oil line wherein theoperatingfluid is first pumped into the converter. Then at thechangeover the same fluid is taken from the converter clutch with thetransmission under the front real;

(not shown).

It will be noted that in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 the adjustable front seat3| is the extreme rear position. In this application the reference toframe" shall mean a. frame per se or its equivalent, as in and issupplied to the hydrokinetic clutch and vice versa (not shown).

Fig.4 illustrates a modification of the invention. Here housing 32'contains a hydrokinetic clutch I substantially similar to that indicatedinFig. 1.

Her however a usual disc clutch 54 is interposed between thelr'drokinet-ic clutch and usual change speed transmission in housing 55.This combination is not new with the applicant. In the present inventionhowever the needed large diameter and thick hydrokinetic clutch isprevented from interfering withvthe driver's space of action.

Fig. 5 illustrates a further modification, wherein a usual engine I5 isprovided with a clutch, not shown in clutch housing 56, they forming afirst unit. The second unit is made by tubing 30' and thereto attachedusual change-speed transmission in housing 56. This proposa'l'permitsthe material lowering of the driver's compartment floor.

In Fig. l, the outer part-ball sphere 26 surrounds a mechanicaluniversal joint 22. This construction-is also used in Figs. 4 and 5. Inview of the fact that the mission of this joint, when in service, islimited to the engine-to-transmission lineal misalignments only, forcertain application I might prefer to supplant this splined mechanicaluniversal joint with a flexible metal disc Joint (not shown).

In the constructions here proposed. the position of the usually heavyhydrokinetic transmission units reaching up to 100 lbs. permit furtherforward positioning of the engine without interfaring with thedirectional stability. Forwardly positioned engines increase the usefulfloor space in the vehicle bodies.

For certain applications I might combine the disclosures of Figs. 4 and5 and place the hydrokinetic clutch with the engine and place the drythe case of "frameless automobiles.

Whatapplicant claims as his invention: 1. In an automobileya frame, anengine supported by said frame, a change speed mechanism including ahydrokinetic device, a power transfer device between said engine andsaid change speed mechanism, a housing for said power transfer deviceand said change speed mechanism, said housing being arranged rearwardlyof said engine, said change speed mechanism being supported by saidhousing, a universally pivotal connection between one end of saidhousing and said engine, anda connection between the other end of saidhousing and said frame.

2. In an"automobile, .a frame, a driver's compartment. anda seattherein, an engine in the front of said compartment, a change speedmechanism including a hydrokinetic device having a housing disposedunder said seat,

a tension on said housing supported by said engine by a universallypivotal connection. a resilient connection between the rear part of saidhousing and said frame, and a power transfer shaft between said engineand change speed mechanism includingv a universal connection. v

3. In an automobile, a frame, a driver's compartment and an adjustableseat therein, an engine having a. clutch in a. housing in front of saidcompartment, 9. change speed mechanism having a housing disposed undersaid seat, a forward extension on said last named housing supported bysaid clutch housing by a universally pivotal connection, a powertransfer shaft between said engine and/change speed mechanism includinga universal connection, a resilient connection between the rear part ofsaid last named housing forward ex-

